|
Tue, Mar 5, 13 at 15:23
| I live in an old home, built in the 60s. After moving in, I noticed a gradually growing brown patch over the downstairs toilet (which is directly beneath the upstairs toilet). I monitored it, never finding it to be wet or even damp, but it continued to grow until I got concerned about it. I cut about a 6x4 hole into the ceiling, which was sufficient to cut away all of the brown part. The sheetrock was dry and everything in the ceiling up to the toilet and pipes above it were dry. I peered all around, felt all around - nothing! I cut new sheetrock and (badly) patched the ceiling using joint compound and spackle, but did did not repaint it yet. Within six months, light brown stains began to reappear around the edges of the patch that I placed (so that they make a square stain). Now the stains are getting darker and the spackle is flaking in areas under the stain, but the ceiling is not soft or damp at all! Is this some kind of water leak, or possibly something else? Please help this amateur! |
Follow-Up Postings:
|
| Check the upper toilet seal to the stack. It is commonly a wax gasket. If the toilet rocks or moves it WILL break the seal. |
|
- Posted by bus_driver (My Page) on Tue, Mar 5, 13 at 18:10
| Excess mop water upstairs can wet the ceiling intermittently. |
|
| When we had a stain on the ceiling above a lower level toilet that was directly below the upper level toilet we first thought that it was the upper toilet leaking. Turned out it was actually a leak in the boot around the plumbing vent stack on the roof. The boot was easily replaced. Sometimes it only needs new caulking. I suggest you check that out before tearing apart you upper level toilet. |
|
- Posted by christophern (My Page) on Mon, Mar 18, 13 at 3:59
| Do not forget, water can migrate over vast spaces. IE the leak could be 100 feet from the brown spot. |
|
| An old leak that has been painted over will still bleed through. The leak may have been corrected years ago so it is dry but will still bleed through. White shellac or several coats of KILLS may do the trick |
|
| "The boot was easily replaced. Sometimes it only needs new caulking." A boot that needs ANY caulking is badly designed or installed. |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Home Repair Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.